"Come along, Kingslayer. Y/N." Brienne ordered and you rolled your eyes. You and your sister usually got along well, until you were tasked by Lady Stark to escort Ser Jaime Lannister back to King's Landing. You didn't care for the way Brienne had treated Jaime the first few weeks you were together. She still refused to call him by his name, even though he insisted. You, on the other hand, had no problem. He hadn't done anything to offend or hurt you.

Now, you were so close to King's Landing, you could have cheered. You could see that Jaime was beyond ready to be home. There was part of you that would miss his company. True, he was far from perfect and he could be downright crude at times, but he was witty and charming and he made you laugh. He even saved your and Brienne's lives.

"How is your arm, Jaime?" you asked him as you walked next to him behind Brienne. He smiled softly, but didn't take his eyes off the city in front of you. "I can't feel any pain, if that's what you're asking." You nodded and followed Brienne into the city. No sooner were you in the gates, did two guards grab your arms and escort you to the throne room. You were dragged before the king and made to kneel in front of him. You could see the fire in Brienne's eyes at their treatment of you, but you knew she wouldn't do anything that could get you hurt.

"How do we know you aren't spies for Catelyn Stark? Sent here to assassinate me?" Joffrey was practically screeching like a barn owl. You shied away. You weren't sure how to answer his question without him getting angry or without getting angry yourself. A spy? Why on earth would he think you were a spy? Luckily for you, Jaime spoke out in your favor.

"Your Grace, Lady Y/N is no spy. I assure you, no spy, no matter what they are paid, would have gone through what Lady Y/N did. Brienne of Tarth was tasked with bringing me and with presenting Lady Stark's terms. Lady Y/N merely accompanied her sister and I. Nothing more, nothing less." You noticed how careful he was not to use your name without your title, despite having called you by your name for most of your journey. You knew he was trying to help, but it stung a little.

Joffrey turned his gaze back to you. You kept your eyes downcast so you wouldn't incur his wrath. You'd heard it was a sight to feared. "Very well." You fought back the sigh of relief that threatened to bubble forth. "Get our guests cleaned up and escort them to their chambers." You quickly rose to your feet and sent Jaime a look to say thanks. Jaime merely nodded once, but he had lost the warmth that had been in his eyes before you entered the city. It made you sad.

You didn't see Jaime again for several days, much to your dismay, but you spent many hours exploring the Red Keep. It was vast and held so many secrets. You also enjoyed reading in the gardens. You were heading toward one of the many gardens, book in hand, when you finally saw Jaime again. "Where are you off to, Lady Y/N?"

"Have we resorted to formalities again, Ser?" you quipped back, looking up into his green eyes. He had cut off the majority of his hair and beard. All that was left of the beard was a little stubble. It suited him, though you'd never admit that out loud. Jaime sighed. "There are a different set of rules here, Y/N."

You frowned. "Then you should return to your post, shouldn't you?" You turned away, only to have Jaime grab your arm with his good hand. Only then did you glance down to see the golden hand that had replaced the one cut off.

"Please, Y/N. I-I must admit that I have missed your company these past few days. I see your sister, but not you." You shrugged. "You and my sister have more in common. I am not surprised you have seen her out and about. I myself have found joy in exploring the Keep." Jaime dropped your arm and sighed. "That could be dangerous for you, Y/N." You shrugged again. "I can defend myself."

Jaime nodded sadly and you relented. "Perhaps you would do me the honor of walking with me? I had intended on reading and it is such a lovely day I thought it would be nice to do so in the gardens." Jaime's expression brightened up a bit. If you hadn't been paying attention, you wouldn't have noticed it. "Of course." You looped your arm around his and smiled up at him. The twinkling was returning to those green eyes you loved to look at.

The two of you walked the rest of the day and well into the night, lost in conversation. And, even though you carried it in your hand, all thoughts of reading your book were long forgotten. For the next several weeks, that became your routine. When Jaime was not needed by the king or Cersei, he was with you.

"So then, Brienne grabbed the boy by the neck and threw him face first in the pig trough," you recounted with a giggle. You had been swapping childhood stories that evening. Jaime threw his head back and laughed, a genuine laugh. You adored this side of Jaime. The side that only you saw. When Jaime was away from Cersei, he was a much more open and happier person. When Jaime was done laughing, he told you a story of a time when Cersei had done something and convinced him to take the blame. That was when the tone of your conversation changed.

"Why do you let her have such a hold on you?" you asked innocently. Jaime's eyes hardened and his lips drew into a straight line. "You would never understand. All Cersei and I have are each other. We've been together since before our birth. We have always been together." You shook your head. "That doesn't mean you owe your life to her." Jaime clenched his remaining hand into a fist. "Let it go, Y/N. You're meddling in things you don't understand."

You stood up from your seat and grabbed the book you hand been reading before Jaime arrived. "I won't understand unless you tell me." Jaime shot up and yelled out in frustration. "Just leave it be!" he snapped and you scoffed. "Goodnight, Jaime." You turned on your heel and headed to your chambers. You didn't want to deal with his attitude. You walked away, fighting back the tears in your eyes. You thought you and Jaime were getting close. You thought that maybe, just maybe, he felt the same way for you that you did for him. That he could be honest with you. Apparently not.

Jaime stalked out of the garden, his anger fading with every step he took away from you. In its place, heartbreak grew. He hadn't intended on feelings developing. He had Cersei after all and that was enough. Or at least it had been. Now, Jaime wasn't so sure. You had shown him that there was more to life that spending it in fear or conflict.

Jaime's thoughts traveled to your time together. He had gotten to know you and had shared things with you that he'd never told anyone, not even Cersei. Where his thoughts used to be filled with thoughts of his twin, they were replaced with thoughts of you. It was your face Jaime saw when he went to bed at night and when he woke up in the more.

It was your (h/c) hair he wanted to run his fingers through. Your (e/c) eyes he wanted looking up at him as your head rested on his chest. Your lips he wanted to kiss. Jaime ran his hand over his face and groaned. There was no denying it. Jaime Lannister was in love with you and there was nothing to be done for it.

Jaime made it back to his chambers, removed his armor, and flopped down in the bed. He kept telling himself that he was being foolish. Jaime had never loved anyone this way, except for Cersei and even that was a twisted sort of love. Of course, after that night, Jaime knew there was no way you'd love him back. Then there were his vows. His duty to the Kingsguard.

That night, Jaime slept fitfully and he dreamed. Really dreamed. In his dream, he saw you. You were gazing up at him lovingly as he draped his cloak over your shoulders and vowed to protect you. He watched as your lips moved, promising that you were his forever. Then, the dream changed. Now, you were sitting on your bed next to Jaime at Casterly Rock, cooing at the babe in your arms.

Jaime bolted up in bed and grinned. His heart knew what he wanted and he knew he had to tell you soon, before your sister left and took your with her. Jaime quickly pulled on a pair of trousers and a loose tunic. He left his chambers quietly and walked toward yours. He didn't want to wake Cersei or Brienne. He reached your door and knocked softly, yet frantically.

To his surprise, the door swung open almost immediately. "Jaime?" you asked in shock. He took in your form. Your eyes were red, although from sleep or tears, Jaime wasn't sure. Your hair stuck out at all different angles and your beautiful lips wore a scowl. "May I come in?" he asked in a hushed tone. You nodded and moved aside.

The moment the door was closed, Jaime had you trapped between the door and his arms as his lips descended on yours. You pushed him back. "J-Jaime? What are you doing?" Jaime smirked. "I thought you would know a kiss when you felt one." You rolled your eyes. "You know what I meant, Jaime. What are you doing in here?"

Jaime sighed and moved across the room so you could create some space between you. "I've been a fool, Y/N. I've been unable to see what was right in front of me." You cocked your head to the side and Jaime laughed. "I want to make you mine." You straightened your head and gaped at him. He wanted you? "What are you saying?"

He walked over and placed his hands on your hips. "I am saying that I love you, Y/N. I want to marry you." You let out a laugh, although it was hollow. "Don't make jokes, Jaime. I am in no mood. Even if you truly wanted to, you cannot. You have your vows." Jaime scoffed. "I will leave the Kingsguard. Father has wanted me to be his heir for years and now I have reason."

"You mean that, Jaime? You love me?" He looked into your eyes and you saw that familiar twinkle there. "I do. If you will have me." You beamed and pressed your lips to his. "Of course I will. I love you too, Jaime."